“Inevitable” jail sentence looms for drink driver

Tuesday 11 December 2018

A driver who was almost four times the legal alcohol limit when he was arrested has been told he is likely to be heading to prison early next year.

Alexander Ferguson appeared before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, after being arrested last week, where he pleaded guilty to two charges - driving while over the prescribed limit and driving in a way that was dangerous to the public.

Judge Graeme McKerrell seemed keen to settle the matter immediately but Mr Ferguson’s lawyer wasn’t there and although he was represented by a different lawyer for the court hearing she asked for an adjournment until January so reports could be prepared.

Judge McKerrell said he couldn’t imagine what a report could say that would change matters, but he did agree, though he said, “it seems on the face of it that a custodial sentence is almost inevitable” 

He then adjourned the case until 17 January 2019, telling Mr Ferguson he is not allowed to drive any motor vehicle under any circumstances.

Pictured: Breath testing is widely used by Guernsey Police to prevent drink driving or to catch those responsible.

The legal breath limit is 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml, but the court heard Mr Ferguson gave a reading of 132 when he was stopped by Guernsey Police on 6 December, meaning he was almost four times the limit. 

Advocate Tee told the court that a report by the probation services may provide the Judge with “some personal circumstances to consider.”

That report will be done before Mr Ferguson’s next court appearance in just over a month’s time.

Pictured top: Guernsey’s Magistrate Court.